Sunday, July 31, 2011

Song Sharing Sunday - 132 [《阿娣》的主题曲]

Being a Huge Fan of Zoe Tay, how can I leave this song out of my Song Sharing Sunday collection?!
Though the song was not sung by her, but every lyrics in the song reminds me of her amazing acting skills. *muack*

Song Sharing Sunday Badge

《阿娣》的主题曲 ~ Full Song



I failed to find the lyrics of the full song, so here's the lyrics for part of the song, which we always see before the start of the show...

Zoe Tay "Devotion" Theme Song 郑惠玉 "阿娣" 主题曲


Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - Snail Likes Watermelon



Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Sell On eBay - Earring Hooks

Great!
Another few pieces down.
Though this is taking way longer than I wanted, I am still happy with every single sale I made on eBay. Afterall, I am CLEARING my stocks, not really earning money from it.
In fact, most of my things are sold below market price on eBay, just like the followings which were purchased by a customer few days ago.

I had customers of all sorts, who bought these Earring Hooks. Some used them for their own purposes, others were like me in the past, used them to create varieties of earrings and sell them off.



Whichever category they might be in, these two items are my most sellable items in my eBay list, because they are way below market price. I have seen a shop selling the Rhodium Earring Hooks at 8pieces for $1.00, yet I am selling 72pieces for $1.00!!!

A few of my customers could not believe the bargain and had emailed me to double confirm that it was not a typo error made on my eBay listing. *giggle*

Well, I purchased these and many other jewellery making parts and pieces in Thousands and Thousands of quantity. If I do not sell them off in such large amount per pack, I would take even longer to clear.

So here's to more selling on eBay!
Cheers!

Monday, July 25, 2011

My Happy Purchases - Curry Puffs and Chicken Pies

I have been feeling really upset since Friday when my parenting blog was taken down for the 5th time by my hosting company and is still in suspension mode till now....
My hubby had been suggesting Curry Puffs and Chicken Pies from Oven Marvel, previously known as Delicious Muffins, at Sunshine Plaza (see detail blog post over here "Delicious Muffins is now Oven Marvel")

He knows that they are my new cravings and hopefully the fragrant and lovely taste would cheer me up a little. I kept rejecting his kindness till this morning....
We avoided the ERP gantry charges before 12noon and was the second customer in queue even before Oven Marvel was opened. That is how good their pastries are!

At 11.30am, though the gate was still half-opened, the smell was simply irresistible! The chefs were already hard at work.
I stood patiently at the half-lifted gate for about 5 mins before the Lady Boss arrived and greeted me, "Good morning, what do you want?"
"Chicken Pies and Curry Puffs, 4 pieces each." I replied.

After checking with the chefs, she asked, "It will only be ready by 11.50am, is that ok?"
I knew I would be late to fetch my younger one from Kindergarten, but hey, I came all the way here, I would not want to leave empty handed nor come back later to pay for the ERP charges. So I said, "Ok".
*smile*

So THIS WAS OUR LUNCH!

Chicken Pies

Chicken Pie - $3.00
Curry Puffs

Curry Puffs ~ $2.20

With 4 Chicken Pies and 4 Curry Puffs, I paid $20.80.
Expensive in my opinion.

But they are so good, even my 6 year old and 7 year old boys loved it since the very first time they tasted it few weeks ago and had asked for more; which makes it even more worthwhile to travel all the way there. Seeing kids happy, makes parents happy.

Will we buy them again, DEFINITELY YES!!!
Its pretty addictive in a way.
*wink*

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Song Sharing Sunday - 131 [Limahl - Never Ending Story]

Never Ending Story (1984) is a show which I grew up watching.
I have lost count on how many times I have watched this show already.

The themem song is one of the songs that stays rooted in my head after so many years.
Love it sooooooooooooooooo much then and now still!
*hugs*

Song Sharing Sunday Badge


Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

Never Ending Story - Limahl




I still remember crying when Atreyu lost his horse, Artax.
I still remember crying even more when Bastian found out that he was left with just ONE memory ball.
Then I found myself grinning and even laughing at the end of the show, which I am sharing here below:

One of my Favourite Scene in the Never Ending Show:-




Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Racial Harmony Day

Racial Harmony Day was not celebrated when I was in Primary School. At least not that I can remember. Anyone remembered celebrating Racial Harmony Day back in the 80s?


My elder boy's school celebrated Racial Harmony Day on two days, yesterday and today. Because of his illness, he was absent from school yesterday and could only participate the sing-song-and-relax celebration today. What made me want to blog about this is because I was so moved when in his still-unwell-state, he remembered me.


He saw the Racial Harmony Day Orange Ribbon and bought it for me at the price of $0.40. *Super Hugs* Thank you baby!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Delicious Muffins is now Oven Marvel

My sis wanted to have a 'special birthday cake' this year. Some time ago, her friend recommended muffins from the shop Delicious Muffins and my sis remembered that recommendation but has yet to try. So she decided to give it a try on her birthday.
Yes, delicious muffins were her BIRTHDAY CAKE!
How special.
Details of her birthday is in the post "Happy Birthday Ah Yee."

Never knew or heard of Sunshine Plaza, but thanks to my sis's request, we were given this opportunity to find this 'treasure'.

Allan drove us to Sunshine Plaza in the CBD area to collect the delicious muffins which we ordered the day before.

You can call the lady boss on her mobile phone number 96361503. Don't worry about her not picking up the call, because she does return your call. *smile*

When she returned my call few minutes later, I had a little chat with her. She told me that her Delicious Muffins signboard has been changed to Oven Marvel with pictures of two gloves beside the name. She explained that the change is because she wants others to know that everything sold in the shop are handmade and not machine productions.

My heart sank a little when I heard the reason. Because she was already ranking so well on Google Page 1 with the keyword 'Delicious Muffins' and 'Delicious Muffins Sunshine Plaza'. To have the sudden change in her signboard, I am not too sure if it would affect her sales as people might not be able to find the signboard 'Delicious Muffins' when they visit Sunshine Plaza.

Anyway, the shop is located near Bugis at 91 Bencoolen Street, #01-51, Sunshine Plaza. It is closed on 8th, 18th, 28th of the month and opens from 11.30am to 8.00pm.

Many reviews have said that her curry puffs outshone her delicious muffins and since her menu list only consists of 6 items, I thought might as well get all 6! *laugh*

Here's what they have to offer:
Chicken Pie
Curry Puff

Orange Peel Muffin
Apple Raisin Muffin

Chocolate Muffin

Banana Walnut Muffin
The shop was nothing short of simple, down-to-earth and plain serious baking going on and I love it. The small shop is more like a kitchen. There is only a very small table good enough for two person to sit against the glass wall. With 3 foldable tables and some simple chairs outside the shop or I would rather say, outside the kitchen, the place is set for their daily business.

I would seriously suggest that you call and make an order first, instead of giving them a surprise visit. The person before me bought alot too and there are very few selections available in the take-and-go mini-shelf.

The cardboard box delivery man happened to be there shortly after me and the lady boss attitude towards him showed her undeniable perfectionist character. I love perfectionist who deals with food. *Thumbs Up*

Though tough on the delivery guy, she was still very professional in serving her customers and gave me personalised service like what Go Promos personalized keychains would. Seeking my approval on how the muffins, pie and puffs to be packed and arranged made me feel good. In total, I bought 16 muffins, 4 for each flavour, 2 curry puffs and 1 chicken pie for $30+.

She asked, "Are you sure you can finish them?"
Me: "If we can't finish them today, we will eat it tomorrow for breakfast."

In beautiful Mandarin, she continued, "3 days is the maximum number of days you can keep the pastries. Put them in the refrigerator if you would be keeping them for 3 days. Warm them up before eating. Today, which is collection day, must be considered as the 1st day. BUT (and her face became even more serious-looking) the curry puffs and chicken pie MUST be consumed by today."

Me: "But I will definitely be able to finish them by tomorrow morning, so do I still need to refrigerate them?"
She: "Not necessary."

The taste and fragrant was reduced overnight, but still delicious.
So what is my verdict?
Here's the ranking,
from 1.- Craving-For-More to 6.- I-Will-Not-Buy-It-Again:
  1. Curry Puff
  2. Chicken Pie
  3. Banana Walnut Muffin
  4. Chocolate Muffin (being a chocolate fanatic, the taste of the chocolate was not strong enough for me)
  5. Apple Raisin Muffin
  6. Orange Peel Muffin (the orange kept sticking onto my molars *Thumbs Down*)
In fact, I just told my hubby a few days ago about my craving for Oven Marvel curry puffs and chicken pies. If my son was not sick, I think we would have went because my son loves their curry puffs too. *wink*

Have you tried them before?
What was your impression of their pastries?

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Easy Cheesecake

This would probably shock some of my secondary school classmates. *laugh*
Someone or rather, the ONLY ONE who failed in the home economics cookery class, when tested on Baking skills, actually succeeded in baking her very own cheesecake in First Attempt after so many years!
Yeah!

I have not touched any baking oven since that failure when I was 14 years old.
It was horrendous!
My swissroll turn out like a blob of shit with 'blood stains' (strawberry jam) on it! *head buried underground*
There was no way I could roll it up at all after seeing the state of it when I opened the oven door.

19 years later...

This same girl with that same pair of hands has decided to break free from that 'baking' phobia for her hubby.
Allan loves to eat cheesecake.
But tip top delicious cheesecakes usually comes with a price.
"Why not try baking cheesecake, so we (he meant 'I', I think. *laugh*) could have cheap and yummy cheesecake anytime!"

All fidgety and excited at the same time, I flipped through cookbooks, watched YouTube videos on easy cheesecake baking and lots of cookery shows last week.
Finally, found this easy cheesecake recipe:


But being in a different country from the chief in the video, it was not easy to get the exact same ingredients. So I changed the base to chocolate biscuits (similar to Oreo, but removing the cream).
Furthermore, I slashed the quantity of the easy cheesecake ingredients by half.

Its my first attempt afterall.
Though excited, confidence is still missing.
So if a disaster strikes, at least I would not be throwing too much money, effort and ingredients into the bin.

I decided to separate the mixture into two.
One, round shaped with the strawberry on top of the easy cheesecake.
The other, rectangular with the swirl inside the cheesecake, instead of just on the top.

Yes, the look is very different, in fact, the brand of cream cheese used was different too.
Even though lots of changes were made, my ONLY concern was, it is EDIBLE???!!!
*laugh*


After spending the night in the refrigerator, it went into the mouth of my guinea pigs judges, these were their comments:
Allan: "Very Very Nice! I prefer the swirl (rectangular) than having the strawberry on top (round), 'cos it creates a little excitement in the taste buds, some parts with strawberry and some without. I REALLY LIKE IT. But I prefer the base to be a thin sponge cake." And he continues to eat it for the next few days.
*phew*

My boys added rainbow sprinkles to their piece of cheesecake to give it more colours! *smile*

My 7 year old boy: "Mmmm... nice!" And that was his only piece since then.
*eyes rolled*

My 6 year old boy: "I like everything! The cheese is nice, the biscuit is nice, but the best is still the sprinkles!" *faint*

My sis: "I prefer the round cheesecake with the strawberry jam on top. It is firmer. The other looks like a crime scene!"
*Huge Laugh*

Will I bake it again?!
Sure!
But this time chocolate sponge cake would be used as the base.
Errrrrmmmm.... that is IF I succeed in baking a chocolate sponge cake first.
*laugh*

Monday, July 18, 2011

My Happy Purchases - Little Twin Stars Dress

Yeah!!!
Another Happy Purchase!

The price was so irresistible!
It was only $15.90 for this Little Twin Stars Dress.
I cannot find any reason not to add this into my collection of Little Twin Stars.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Song Sharing Sunday - 130 [Jason Mraz - I'm Yours]

A song so addictive.
A song so infectious.
A song which I find it hard to get sick of, even after listening to it for a thousand times...

Song Sharing Sunday Badge


Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

I'm Yours - Jason Mraz







Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Friday, July 15, 2011

McDonalds Buy 1 Get 1 Free - Chocolate Melts

YIPPEE!
Today is THE DAY!
The FIRST DAY of McDonalds Buy 1 Get 1 Free promotion for their Chocolate Melts!

Being a Chocolate Queen who needs a chocolate a day to keep her day shining like sun's ray, how would I miss this?!

*LAUGH*


In case you cannot see the fine prints well, here's what it said:
"Print or flash this coupon on your mobile to redeem. Only one redemption per transaction is permitted. Valid in Singapore restaurants and McCafe except during breakfast hours from 15 till 19 July 2011. Not valid via McDelivery and institutional stores. While stocks last."

Ooooohhhhh YUMMY!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Song Sharing Sunday - 129 [The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - The Golden Age]

I thought this girl was Avril Lavigne, who has a 'once-heard-hard-to-forget' kind of voice.
*smile*
In the end I was wrong.
Its by this group called:  The Asteroids Galaxy Tour
Loved this song instantly when I heard it for the first time during the Heineken TV advertisement.

Song Sharing Sunday Badge


Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

The Golden Age - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour



The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - The Golden Age Lyrics

I wished I lived in the golden age
Giving it up on the Broadway stage
Hang with the rats and smoke cigars
Have a break with Frank and count the stars

Dressed to the nines, with hair to match
Shiny jewels, casino cash
Tapping feet, wanna take the lead
A trip back in time is all I need

Oh!
Sing it out loud gonna get back honey
Sing it out loud get away with me
Sing it out loud on a trip back honey
Sing it out loud and let yourself free

Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo

I'm on my way, gonna make it big
Gonna make this song for the chicks to dig
It's really hot and a little bit sour
We're getting your strength to maximum power

Flying away from reality
Whatever-ever happened to gravity?
I see it clear, a shooting star
And I'm really gonna sing it like da-da-da

Sing it out loud gonna get back honey
Sing it out loud get away with me
Sing it out loud on a trip back honey
Sing it out loud and let yourself free

Yeah!

Sing it out loud gonna get back honey
Sing it out loud get away with me
Sing it out loud on a trip back honey
Sing it out loud and let yourself free

Yeah-yeah!



Ohhh silver screen on a rainy day
Sally Bowles in Cabaret
Shaking sticks, oh what a show
Fresh and jolly, from tip to toe

Rambling down the boulevard
With a fire burning in a wooden heart
My mind is set, I won't be lying
But I never really thought it would feel this fine

Yeah!
Sing it out loud gonna get back honey
Sing it out loud get away with me
Sing it out loud on a trip back honey
Sing it out loud and let yourself free


Yeah!
Hey! Hey!
Whoo!
Ooh!

Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Whoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo


Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Friday, July 8, 2011

Happy Birthday Sis!

birthday-desi-glitters-32


Enjoy your last birthday as a single individual before you change your marital status. *wink*

Happy Birthday Sis!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

The Smurfs Movie 2011

*Scream*
Really?!
I didn't know about this till I heard it from the DJ few minutes ago.
The Smurfs Movie is coming this August!???
*Yeah*

Am a huge fan of Smurfs, since young.
Tried playing the Smurfs App game on my iPad but hhhhmmm... I think Gargamel got a way with it somehow and it simply could not work after sometime. *pout*
That was the glimpse of what childhood used to be like for me.
Blue 'humans' everywhere!
*giggle*

Now a MOVIE on Smurfs?!
Wow oh Wow!
But can I choose NOT to watch 3D?
I prefer to have 'less excitement'.
*laugh*

The Smurfs Movie Trailer:

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

My Happy Purchases - Little Twin Stars Mouse Pad

Bought the Little Twin Stars Mouse Pad yesterday at IMM Daiso, where everything goes for S$2.00 each. *Grin*

They had 3 full rows of it.
Wanted to buy them all!!!!
*laugh*

Oh well, mouse pad does get dirty and worn out over time.
In fact this is one of the very few Little Twin Stars items used.
Most of my Little Twin Stars items were bought to be kept as collectibles.
*wink*

So now I have two of them.
One darker pink, the other slightly lighter pink.

*Thumbs Up*

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Goodbye Old Friends...

Since two, I knew all of you.
I watched you grow as closely as you watched me.
We used to play together, but that was very long time ago.
I remembered hanging lanterns on you during Mid Autumn Festival.
I remembered attempting to climb onto you, but failed.
I remembered how you sheltered me from the sun while I watched my friends played soccer on the basketball court.

I did not want to see you go.
I escaped to Malaysia yesterday to avoid hearing the sound of the electric saw.
But I cannot today.

My happy mood turned terrible the moment the yellow-helmet men came.
It got worse when 3 of them were working on all of you at the same time.
The sound cuts my heart like a knife.
Then I heard you fell to the ground which you and I are so familiar with.
A ground that would soon be covered by walkways and lobbies of big, tall buildings.

Michael Jackson's 'Earth Song' started playing in my head....






Is it abnormal for a human to feel so strongly about a living thing that could not communicate?
I don't know.
All I know is as the sound of the electric saws continued to cut through the trees, my heart aches badly.
And the sound of the trees crashing to the ground creates too much emotion in me.
I do not like it.

So I turned on my speakers.
It did not help.
Thus I cupped my ears with headphones and turned up the volume.
Why is it that I can still hear the commotion?
I sang to every song played on the radio.
How is it possible that I can still hear what's hundreds of feet away from me?
I closed my windows and switched on my fan.
Did that solve the problem?

I realised it did not.
'Cos ultimately it was not the sounds....
It was the fact that I have to say Goodbye To My Old Friends.

Today, my husband, who is in the real estate industry, told me the National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan had announced that the government are reviewing the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) scheme. As for now, he has suspended future land sales under the DBSS scheme.

The DBSS scheme is unlike properties listed for sale by owner leads. Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) is a first pilot project build by Sim Lian private developer but maintained under the Housing and Development Board belt after construction. It would be built towards condominium unique design and with good location in matured estate like Tampines, Ang Mo Kio and Bishan.

If only this review came earlier, my old friends would not need to be sacrificed.
*sigh*

"Goodbye Old Friends"

Monday, July 4, 2011

The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

In my opinion Andrew Lloyd Webber is a genius, who is in a league of his own.
To celebrate his great masterpieces, Marina Bay Sands Singapore presents
"The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber", 
from 7th to the 17th of July 2011

I WANT TO GO!!!

But in my family, there is only ME who is INTO Mr Andrew. As for friends.... hhmmm... no one comes straight to my mind. So most likely I would be going alone.

And so I clicked the ticket website and the moment I saw the price, I backed off.

Yes yes yes, I was expecting a high price, but hhhmmm... not that high...
guess I will stick to my 'online' listening then....

*sigh*

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Song Sharing Sunday - 128 [Little Boots - Remedy]

Song Sharing Sunday Badge


Every Song reminds me of a person, an event, a place, a smell, a taste....a secret, do you have a song to share today?

Remedy - Little Boots







Join in the fun, leave a comment with your Song Sharing Sunday post's URL and don't forget to grab the meme's badge above using the codes provided and I'll hop over to 'listen'...

Saturday, July 2, 2011

What's Stressing Your Relationship?

Can I start again with my faith shaken?
'Cause I can't go back and undo this
I just have to stay and face my mistakes
But if I get stronger and wiser
I'll get through this

So I throw up my fist
Throw a punch in the air
And accept the truth that sometimes life isn't fair
Yeah, I'll send down a wish
Yeah, I'll send up a prayer
And finally, someone will see
How much I care!




You Can't Punish Your Partner Without Punishing Yourself ~ Anthony Robbins



Rewrite the Story of Your Relationship.
What is the story you have about your ideal relationship?
The reason why you don't have that story that you really want, is the story you keep telling yourself why you can't have it.



When you are ready to change that sinking relationship, you don't need to wait for Valentine's Day.
Every day IS Valentine's Day.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Is Your Relationship in Danger?

Let me count... 1... 2... 3...4...
yes that is how many of my friends/relatives are getting into the danger zone in their relationship with their spouse.
Have 'counselled' them, have spent time with them, but truly, in a realtionship, if one really wants to make an effort to get out of that rejection situation and back into the passionate intimacy life that first started off, it all boils down to whether are you willing to try everything, including doing nothing at all?

How often we try to do what we think is best to salvage the relationship, little did we realise that the problem actually lies exactly in that!

In a point of frustration and rejection, no idea is a good idea.
Take a step back. 
Take time to hush. 
Start to listen. 
Bring yourself out of the situation and see it from outside the box.
Does the problem really lies with your spouse?
Or is it YOU?....

It is never easy to control others thoughts, actions and words.
But you and Only You can control Your thoughts, actions and words....

I always believe that it takes two to clap.
It takes two to fight.
It takes two to have a reaction.
If you are able to take control of one ~ which is YOU.
Don't you see that 50% of the battle is won?

So what if you think you are right in every argument?
My question is, was the argument necessary? 
Was the argument edifying?
Did the argument improve your relationship?

Very often, every argument is a struggle for power.
I AM RIGHT = I have POWER.
I have a higher authority than you.

Is relationship a struggle of power?
Does making your spouse feel 'small' magnifies your ego?
So what if your ego is raised?
You have hurt the one whom you vowed to spend the rest of your life with.
Is it worth it?

You want ego?
Get yourself a job!
Climb up that hierachy ladder.
Be at the top! And there your ego is!
Not crush your wife or husband with your heavy ego.
That is power in the wrong place!

God made Eve from the side bone of Adam.
It represents equality.
It represents companionship.
It means being side by side with each other through thick and thin.
Not towering over one another.


Close your eyes and let your mind brings you back to the day the proposal was done,
the wedding was held and
the day fireworks lit the sky when your eyes met.
Find that passion again.
Find that reason again.
That reason is powerful enough to break the 'wall' that separates you two now...

*Hugs*